Taiwan launches 10-day Han Kuang drills with record reservists and first-ever internet throttling

Launch and scope

Taiwan began its annual Han Kuang exercises before dawn on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with an underground command center in Taipei issuing the start order. The drills run for 10 days through August 14 and involve the Army, Navy, Air Force, reservists, and increasingly civilian agencies. According to local media cited by tagesschau.de and ABC, more than 20,000 soldiers and reservists are participating. For the first time, over 5,000 reservists across two brigades have been mobilized, up from one brigade of more than 3,000 last year, as reported by The Independent. The exercises, held since 1984, span the entire island.

Command decentralization and realism

A central objective this year is testing whether armed forces can operate under degraded communications and a disrupted command chain. Field commanders will make operational decisions autonomously without waiting for orders from higher levels. The drills introduce US-inspired communication methods including "backbriefs," where subordinates explain to superiors how they plan to execute assigned missions. The Defense Ministry has moved toward more realistic scenarios after recurring criticism of over-scripting, increasing on-the-ground commander autonomy and involving the general population.

Civil defense and internet throttling

Urban resilience drills will take place on different days in Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. For the first time, authorities reduced mobile internet speed for about 30 minutes to simulate telecommunications interference during a cyberattack or other crisis. The test was carried out in 14 cities and counties, including the capital, from 14:30 to 15:00 local time, as announced by the National Communications Commission. The affected areas are home to roughly 70% of the population, per AFP information cited by tagesschau.de. Residents were urged to familiarize themselves with air raid procedures and locate nearby shelters.

Equipment and blockade simulation

Newly acquired M1A2T Abrams tanks are being tested, part of 108 units Taiwan purchased in 2019, with the last batch arriving in April. Navy and Coast Guard ships will escort supply convoys in a simulated Chinese naval blockade in waters east of the island. The drills also assess the ability of mobilized establishments to sustain wartime production and test the wartime relocation of military and civilian facilities. Along a beach overlooking the Taiwan Strait, reservists trained with Taiwanese-made assault rifles, while in a Taipei high school courtyard others practiced loading mortars and using M4 carbines. In southern Taiwan, Navy units and a submarine were deployed, and tanks conducted pre-dawn maneuvers in Taichung streets.

Political context and regional reactions

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not renounced the use of force. Beijing deploys ships, fighter jets, and Coast Guard units near the island almost daily, and has intensified so-called "gray zone tactics" in surrounding waters. Taiwan's parliament recently approved a $24.8 billion supplementary budget for US arms purchases, short of President Lai Ching-te's proposed $40 billion. The government is also waiting on the US to greenlight a $14 billion arms sale package held up for months. Japan and the Philippines have expressed growing concern. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated in November 2025 potential military support for Taiwan to deter a Chinese attack, after which Beijing increased pressure on Japan.

Training can always be improved. We will therefore continue to train with commitment and intensity, to be fully prepared in peacetime and capable of carrying out our missions in wartime.

As the authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party continues to expand, red terror also spreads throughout the world. We will continue to strengthen our national defense and build a defense and resilience system.